It would be so easy to lean down and kiss her. The desire to do just that raged up within him, so he shrugged and stepped to the door as it dinged open. She may smile at him now, her peacemaker’s heart wanting to ease the tension between them, but he could almost guarantee she didn’t want him anymore.
“Talking’s overrated.” He shrugged.
“So, you truly believe actions speak louder than words?” She matched his step as they walked down the hall.
“Maybe.” Though he didn’t like what his past actions said about him.
“Hmm. Interesting.” Her right eyebrow lifted, her gaze up at him calculating. “Welp, this is me.”
She stopped in front of her room and rocked back on her heels. Her eyes darted across the hall to where Gunnar knew Saylor’s room was. Did Julie worry her cousin would yank the door open and storm at him again? He deserved it and more. Could even let her get some good punches in, though knowing Saylor, it’d torque her noodle that he wanted her to.
Julie dropped her eyes to the floor and took a step closer, making Gunnar’s pulse fire rapidly in his neck like an M249 gun. “I’m really glad you’re back home and safe.” She peeked up at him and about did him in. “One less worry for me.”
She shouldn’t have had a single thought of him beyond what a jerk he was, yet she’d feared for him. He needed to retreat before he did something she opposed later when reality slammed back on her, like bend down and kiss her.
He shoved his hands in his coat pockets so he wouldn’t reach for her and took a step back, not missing the disappointment that flashed in her eyes. “Me too.”
Glad he would be on this expedition with her. Glad he could keep her safe in the extreme conditions to come. But more than anything, he was glad she’d survived the battle she’d waged against cancer. That he could be near her, to be enveloped in the peace that filtered into those around her… even if it was just for the next few weeks.